Display-rack.



PATENTED OCT. '16, 1906.

T. J. MOELHENIE.

DISPLAY RACK. APPLIOATION FILED News, 1904.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS J. MGELHENIE, OF MONTPELIER, OHIO.

DISPLAY-RACK.

Specification-0f Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 16, 1906.

Application fil d November 5, 1904. Serial No. 231,501.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS J. MOELHE- NIE, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Montpelier, in the county of Williams and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Display-Racks, of which the following is such a full, clear, and exact description as will enable others skilled in the art to which it -appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof. 2

My invention relates to a display-rack, and is designed specially for the use of merchants in displaying lace curtains, pillow-tops, and similar articles of merchandise. It will not be confined to such use, however as my rack is equally convenient and useful in,,displaying any class of merchandise that can be hung up or for a clothes-rack and kindred uses in the home.

One object of my invention is to provide a display-rack that while in use with articles suspended therefrom may be closed up into the least possible compass and swung around out of the way and that, without disturbing the articles thereon, may be easily covered by a dust-protecting curtain.

Another object of my invention is to provide a display-rack each separate arm of which can be made to swing from one side to the other through a complete semicircle in order to allow each separate article thereon to be examined in different positions and different lights without removing any of said articles therefrom.

Other and further objects of my invention will appear in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed, and illustrated in the drawings, in which Figure 1 is an isometric view showing some of the display-arms omitted, and Fig. 2 shows an enlarged detail perspective of a fragment of the inclined bracket-arms.

In carrying out my invention I employ wall-brackets 1, that are securely fastened in vertical alinement to the wall, the shelving, a post, or any suitable upright support. The free end of each bracket is turned up to a perpendicular position and is provided with a shoulder 2, a pivot 3, and a lug 4, adapted to engage and hold the frame of the displayrack. The portion of the pivot 3 between the shoulder 2 and the lug 4 is cylindrical disposed orifice 11 in the lug 10, thereby making ahinge on which the frame of the display-rack is allowed to swing freely from side to side. In placing the frame upon the wall-brackets or lifting the same therefrom the frame is turned into the one position in which the lugs 4 are in alinement with the slots 12, so as to allow said lugs to pass through the slots. v

The frame of the rack .comprises an upright 5, two inclined bracket-arms 6 thereon parallel with each other and separated by a suitable space, and truss-bars 7 from the free ends of the bracket-arms to the upright.

As shown in Fig. 1, the upright, the inclined arms, and the truss-bars may be made integral with each other, or'they may be built up, if so desired. The upper side of the in clined bracket-arms are stepped or provided with offsets 8 on their surface so symmetrically arranged that the corresponding step on each arm is in position to receive a displayarm and truss. Through each step is a hole 9 parallel with the upright, and each hole is in alinement with the corresponding hole in the other bracket-arm. The inclined bracketarm 6 is preferably made in two pieces, dividing the same longitudinally through each hole 9, as illustrated in Fig. 2. One half of said arm 6 is made integral with the upright and truss-bar, and the other half 15 is secured thereto by suitable rivets, bolts, or screws 16. This construction facilitates the formation of the apertures 9 and permits the insertion of display-arms and trusses after the ends thereof have been slightly upset or bent, as shown at a, to prevent them from slipping out of the frame by accident.

On the rear of the frame are lugs 10, that are provided with centrally-disposed orifices 11, each of which is provided with a rearwardly-extending slot 12, adapted to receive said eared pivots 3 and to hold the frame looked upon the brackets, while allowing it to swing freely from side to side thereon.

The display-arms 13 and trusses 14 are each preferably made integral, of steel or spring-brass wire, to give them the greatest strength compatible with their weight. As a further element of strength they are made in triangular form, as shown in Fig. 1, being hinged at the perpendicular side of the triangle to the supporting-frame in the following manner: The free end of the displayarm is bent downward at a right angle and and of proper dimensions to fill the centrally- 1 inserted through an aperture in one of the bracket-arms. The corresponding free end of the truss-rod is bent down into alinement with the end of the display-arm and is in serted through the corresponding aperture in the other bracket-arm. Thus itwill be seen that the display-arms swing in a plane perpendicular to the upright portion of the frame, and from them the articles to be displayed are suspended. The ends of the wires projecting below the bracket-arms are slightly upset or bent, as at a, to prevent them from accidentally coming out of the apertures when the two parts of the inclined bracket-arms are properly bolted together.

The display-arms are preferably made in varying lengths, the longest one being attached nearest the upright and the shortest one farthest therefrom, so that the portion of said arms devoted to display purposes will be of equal length. As Will be seen, each individual display-arm swings from side to side through a complete semicircle, and so each one must be long enough to allow the goods suspended therefrom to pass the frame. When the displayarms and trusses are folded together in a direct line with the bracket-arms, the outer ends thereof are equidistant from the upright, and the wires rest one upon and above another, in which position the entire frame and display-arms, with the goods thereon, may be swung back against the wall or shelving and may be cov eredwith suitable dust-protecting drapery.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a display-rack, an upright, spaced stepped arms carried rigidly by and at an inclination to the upright, and provided with alined vertical bearings formed one in each step, and a plurality of display-arms provided each with alined trunnions, and pivoted thereby in the bearings of the stepped arms.

2. In a display-rack, an upright, spaced arms composed of separable sections and carried rigidly by and at an incline to the upright, and a display-arm provided with alined trunnions and pivoted thereby in the arms.

3'. In a display-rack, an upright, spaced stepped arms carried rigidly and at an incline to the upright, and provided with alined bearings and comprising separable sections dividing the arms through the bearings, and a plurality of display-arms provided with trunnions and pivoted thereby in the bearings.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

THOMAS J. MOELHENIE.

Witnesses:

B. W. OSBORNE, VANNIE Ram. 

